With the European Commission preparing to unveil its long-awaited Chemicals Industry Action Plan on the 8th of July, industriAll Europe has released the position paper "A plan to save the workers of the Chemical Industry" to influence the new initiative, urging policymakers to deliver an ambitious and socially inclusive plan that delivers for workers.

The chemical sector, often dubbed the "industry of industries," underpins nearly all major industrial value chains, contributing to 95% of manufactured goods. As the EU’s second-largest chemical producer, it directly employs 1.9 million people and supports millions more indirectly. However, the sector is facing a crisis marked by skyrocketing energy costs, regulatory difficulties, global competition, and underinvestment, putting up to 200,000 jobs at risk over the next five years.

Despite the high profits of the past, poor strategic choices and a lack of social conditionalities, the industry faces declining production, loss of global market share, and job losses. Recent EU strategies—the Green Deal, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and the Transition Pathway—have laid the groundwork but fall short on enforceable commitments for social and industrial transformation. Against this backdrop, industriAll Europe outlines its 10 urgent demands for the upcoming Action Plan for the Chemicals Industry.

10 Priorities for a stronger, fairer and greener chemical industry:

1.  Quality jobs at the core
   Guarantee decent wages, work-life balance, secure training, and strong collective bargaining rights across Europe.
2. A sustainable and green industry
   Advance proactive environmental policies and corporate accountability to meet EU climate goals.
3. A forward-looking energy strategy
   Ensure affordable, low-carbon, and secure energy access to keep Europe’s chemical industry competitive.
4. Targeted investment for renewal
   Direct EU funding toward modernising infrastructure, strengthening long-term industrial resilience, and advancing a vision for European industrial symbiosis.
5. Circular economy as a pillar
   Make resource efficiency and circularity central to EU industrial policy.
6. Secure and strategic supply chains
   Reshore essential chemical production and support a Critical Chemicals Act to reduce dependencies.
7. Smart, science-based regulation
   Strengthen REACH while streamlining procedures, without weakening worker or environmental protections. We urge the Commission to be cautious and uphold high standards in its forthcoming Omnibus proposal, particularly in areas related to cancerigens, cosmetics and the announced exemptions for the defense sector.
8. Accelerate safe substitutes
   Fund R&D and roll-out of sustainable alternatives, including careful PFAS phase-outs only where possible.
9. Social responsibility in industrial policy
   Condition public support on job quality, social inclusion, worker training, and environmental protection.
10. A truly Just Transition
    Support workers through re-skilling, career transitions, and regional economic diversification.